House Republicans say this is OK as long as the woman is gay, Native American or undocumented.

Although the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was reauthorized in 2000 and 2005 with virtually unanimous support in both the Senate and the House, it expired in 2011 and must be reauthorized before the end of the year in order for the programs it funds to continue. The Senate approved a bipartisan bill reauthorizing it in April, but House Republican leaders are continuing to block it precisely because of its provisions providing help to Native women, members of the LGBT community, and undocumented immigrants who are victims of domestic violence.

(I did not write this text; I found it and lifted it wholesale from Facebook. There was no attribution.)

I'm watching my neighbors do stuff in open garages, watching the clouds turn into sunset colors...and it strikes me how very lucky I am. I live here with my precious husband, my family's nearby, and I have a lovely home to shelter me and my dreams...I am grateful to whatever brought me here for all the joy and love in my life.

My blessings to all of you, my dear friends! May the holiday season bring you joy, and I hope 2013 will be good to all of us. ♥

MANILA — Ignoring the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' warning that "contraception corrupts the soul," the Philippine Congress on Monday passed a sweeping bill that would provide birth control to millions of poor women.

The historic votes, with bishops and nuns sitting glumly in the gallery, came after the Catholic hierarchy and its political supporters had thwarted the legislation's passage for more than 14 years.

The measure, which President Benigno Aquino III has pledged to sign, would override the de facto ban on contraceptives in Manila's public health clinics, make sex education mandatory in public schools and require hospitals to provide postabortion care, even though abortions will remain illegal.

Although more than 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, polls have shown the church was out of step with its followers on this issue: More than 70% of Filipinos supported the so-called Reproductive Health Bill in a nation where 39% of married women want to avoid pregnancy but are not using modern contraceptives.